Day 45

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Monday 5th March

After yesterdays excitement today seemed quite numb, once we had showered eaten and all the rest of it we headed a little way north to Waitangi and the Waitangi treaty grounds

I thought a single kayak was hard enough I’d have no chance with a Waka, especially Ngatokimatawhaorua!

In January 1840 Captain William Hobson arrived in the Bay of Islands to make a treaty with the Maori Chiefs on Behalf of the British Government. James Busby; whom was appointed British Resident in New Zealand in 1833; helped revise Hobson’s draft and Rev. Henry William of Pahia and his son Edward, translated it into Maori.

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On 5^th February 1840 hundreds of Maori and scores of Europeans gathered in front of the Residency at Waitangi.

The treaty was read and explained in English and Maori. The Chiefs debated all day at Waitangi and into the night at Te Tii, across the river. On 6 February 43 chiefs signed the Treaty in front of the Residency at Waitangi. The flagstaff marks the site of the signing.

Copies of the Treaty were then carried around the country. By September 1840 over 500 chiefs had signed it. Hobson proclaimed British sovereignty over the whole country on 21 May 1840. Though debate continues over the interpretation of its parts, the Treaty is best understood as a whole. It is an agreement between two peoples to live and work together in one nation. This agreement is as relevant today as in 1840, for it guarantees the rights of both Maori and non-Maori in Aotearoa New Zealand.

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The site is an amazing day out, a very peaceful walk and like most places in New Zealand has some amazing backdrops. Although you had to pay to visit the grounds (I think it was $12 per person) it was definitely worth it. The grounds are also the site of a Maori Waka (Canoe) one of the largest I believe. 35 metres long a minimum of 76 paddlers is required to handle it safely on the water. Ngatokimatawhaorua (the canoe) was launched as part of the Centenary Celebrations in 1940. It bears the same name of the voyaging waka in which the explore Kupe visited Aotearoa. You really won’t be able to give the size of it justice until you stand next to it; I thought a single kayak was hard enough I’d have no chance with a Waka, especially Ngatokimatawhaorua!

After visiting the treaty house we went to the Maori meetinghouse, Te Whare Runanga. It was opened in 1940, so later than when the treaty was signed but it symbolises the Maori involvement in the signing of the Treaty and in the life of the nation. Some truly amazing craftsmanship has gone into this meetinghouse. I can show you pictures but again, until you see it you will not be able to truly realise how detailed and amazing the carvings are.

After our walk around the treaty grounds we felt peckish and headed to the café near the Waka and looking out onto the sea (another amazing view). And after some Calamari and pancakes we headed on our way to the …… Falls. On arriving however, we we’re a little disappointed with them, not as large as we had expected and as it hasn’t really rained over here (in the SUMMER!! : ) ) there wasn’t much water going over it. So it was back in the “Sabbath” and on our way back to Auckland, to clean the van and get an early night in preparation for an early start to hand back the van tomorrow. So Dean & Emma here we come…!